The psychophysiological procedure utilized to study
the emotional reactivity of the body is called stress profiling. Looking
for correlates to emotions extends throughout the history of psychophysiology
(Lacey & Lacey, 1958; Lader & Mathews, 1968 ; Malmo & Shagass,
1949), with the hope that we would be able to objectively determine
the individual's emotional state without having to rely upon self report.
And as investigations moved into applied clinical research, the questions
were directed more at can we identify those individuals who are at
risk for a particular disorder. For excellent reviews on these topics,
see Haynes (1980) and Schwartz (1987). In this article, I will briefly
review and explore some of the traditional conceptualizations for stress
profiling, while introducing and demonstrating a unique perspective
which reaches back to ancient Vedic writings.

On a purely mind-body level, a key attribute of muscles
is that of emotional display. In addition we can conceptualize emotions
as muscle activation patterns which lie at the foundation of intentional
movement (e-motion). When the muscle activation associated with emotions
occurs, more energy is sent out into the neuromuscular system, taking
up the "slack" in the system and increasing the tonic or
resting level. This emotional bracing (Jacobson, 1932; Whatmore, 1974)
or increased tonus also effects the quality of movement. Professional
athletes certainly know how emotional arousal can "unintentionally" alter
their levels of exertion and change the timing associated with coordinated
movement.

In addition, it is not uncommon for patients to react
to stressful events in a "stereotypic" fashion. Individual
Response Stereotypy (Engel, 1960) is the tendency for an individual
to respond to a variety of stressors with a similar physiologic response.
This tendency was first noted in the early 60's, where some individuals
were observed to always respond to a stressful event by, say, speeding
up their heart rate or by tensing their shoulder muscles. Within the
neuromuscular system, emotional arousal and associated stereotypy have
been studied for the facial muscles (Ekman & Frissen, 1972), the
postural muscles (Goldstien, 1972) and the muscle spindle (McNutty,
et al, 1974).

So, where do we search for these stereotypic patterns?
We can look for signs of autonomic arousal through recordings from
hand temperature and electrodermal activity (EDA). Recordings from
the wide frontalis placement is very popular since is provides an excellent
barometer of the negative emotional displays found on the upper face.
Or a simple visual observations of depressed patients usually indicates
stooped shoulders and fallen chest, while the anxious patient may have
their shoulders markedly elevated as if to protect their neck. Whatmore
(Whatmore & Ellis, 1959; Whatmore and Kohli, 1962) has validated
these phenomena using sEMG recordings. Reactivity in the trunk muscles
may show a high level of specificity. Cram (1997) has presented a case
example of sEMG recordings from the right and left trapezius muscle
groups using the cervical trapezius placement on a patient who had
injured their right upper quarter during a fall down some stairs resulting
in headache and right upper quarter pain. For this patient, it was
only the right cervical trapezius lead which responded to the stressor,
followed by a very poor recovery pattern (return to baseline). The
uninjured left aspect show only a small, insignificant response. Flor
et al (Flor, et al, 1985) have also demonstrated the specific effects
of emotions on the muscles of the low back. In their study of the right
and left aspect of the erector spinae muscles were studied in a group
of low back patients, a group of general pain patients (i.e., pain
other than low back) and a group of healthy controls. Each group was
presented with various types of stressors. The findings of their study
clearly demonstrated that only the low back pain patients experienced
an emotional response (activation pattern), primarily in the left erector
spinae muscle set and only during stressors relevant to the patient's
condition.

Thus, the literature on stress profiling demonstrates
that predictable patterns of reactivity may be seen at traditional
sites for emotional display, sites of injury or sites of reported of
pain. While these perspectives have provided us with a wealth of information,
they are limited by their pure psychophysiologic basis.

Stress Profiling, Flower Essences
and A Matter Of Heart

In a recent study on stress profiling, I was asked
to investigate whether or not a Flower Essence could attenuate the
stress response. The particular essence which was to be studied, The
Five Flower Formula (Flower Essence Services) was first developed by
Dr. Edward Bach in the 1930's and later refined by Julian and Martine
Barnard for the treatment of physical trauma, emergencies and crisis
situations. According to a long history of anecdotal case reports on
its effectiveness, it seemed a likely candidate to influence the stress
response system in some way. Yet no studies on the mechanisms of action
of the flower essence had been performed to date.

If one is to study the effects of a subtle energy
such as a flower essence, it might be necessary to embrace traditional
recording sites, yet broaden the conceptual framework of stress profiling
to include the possible metaphysical influences of flower essences.
Thus, rather than routinely sticking to sEMG recording sites of the
frontal, neck, shoulder or forearm, it was decided to study the biological
energy at multiple sites along the human spine. These sites reflected
the location of the chakras, while simultaneously recording from some
of the more traditional sEMG placement sites. Two previous studies
have demonstrated the sensitivity of sEMG recordings at these chakra
sites while studying the subtle influences of procedures such as Therapeutic
Touch (Wirth and Cram, 1994) and Distant Prayer (Wirth and Cram, 1993).
The chakras sites have specific locations in the human body, and are
where the flow of pranic energy is purported to be the greatest. In
addition, each of the chakras has its own psychophysical and metaphysical
attributes. The sites which were studied may be described below in
both traditional and metaphysical ways:

Site Location

Psychophysiological
Meaning

Metaphysical
(chakra) meaning

Wide Frontal

Seat Of Negative Emotions.

3rd Eye: Divine Joy. Also Seat Of
Knowledge / Enlightenment.

Mastoid to Mastoid Process

Muscle Tension Of Axis.

Postural: Head Position.

Medulla Oblongata: The Ego. Also
The Entry Point of Prana Which Regulates Breath.

Bilateral C4 Paraspinals

Muscle Tension Of Neck.

Postural: Anti-Gravity Muscles

Throat Chakra: Center of Will. Also
Associated With Calmness.

Bilateral T6 Paraspinals

Intrascapular Muscle Tension

Postural: Anti-Gravity Muscles

Heart Chakra: Divine Love.

Also Desires and Attachments.

Bilateral T12 Paraspinals

Muscle Tension at the Thoracic
Lumbar Junction.

Postural: Anti-Gravity Muscles

Lumbar Chakra: Firely Self Control,
Self Image.

Bilateral L4 Paraspinals

Muscle Tension of the Lumbar
Sacral Area.

Postural: Anti-Gravity Muscles

Sacral Chakra: Creativity, Power,
Sexuality.

The procedure of the study followed the "standard
of care" for stress profiling. Electrodes were connected to the
above sites, along with hand temperature probe and EDA recording electrodes.
A five minute baseline was recorded, followed by a pre-recorded three
minute serial arithmetic task (Hartje's Flow Chart), followed by a five
minute recovery period. The only nuance for the study was the administration
of either a placebo or the five flower essence approximately five minutes
prior to the initiation of the first baseline period.

The analysis of the data was conducted using a standard
analysis of variance with repeated measures. Two post hoc analyses were
conducted for each site. The first looked at the interaction of period
(Baseline - Stress - Recovery) with Time (3 minutes of each period) to
determine whether or not there had been a psychophysiological response.

The response patterns and their significance is presented
for Figures 1 - 8. As can be seen, a significant response pattern is
noted for all sites with the exception of the T6 / Heart and L4 paraspinal
/ Sacral site. The lack of responsivity for the T6 / Heart chakra site
may be attributed to the effects of the flower essence (see below). Figure
9 shows the magnitude of the sEMG response from baseline to the stress
period. As can be seen, the mastoid to mastoid / Medulla recording site
shows the largest response pattern, nearly three times greater than any
other site. Lastly, the influence of the Five Flower Formula Essence
is shown for each site in Figures 10 -17. As can be seen, significant
effects were noted only for the T6 / Heart and C4 / Throat chakra sites.

So, what can we learn from the observations of this
study? First of all, it appears that the stress response occurs all along
the spine, not only at our favorite electrode placement sites, such as
the wide frontal placement all together. In fact, had we stuck to the
traditional sites, we would have missed the clinical effects of the flower
essence. I was very surprised and impressed by the magnitude of the stress
response at the mastoid to mastoid / Medulla chakra site. This site has
been pretty well ignored in the stress profiling literature, and currently
is not commonly used in clinical practice. The only other notation for
recordings from this site are found in the work by Mark Schwartz at the
Mayo Clinic (Schwartz, 1985). He has utilized this site to study headaches
for years, and a study by Hudzynski and Lawrence (1988) has validated
its clinical utility for assessment purposes. One could interpret the
increased of sEMG activity at this site to represent a locking of the
head to the spine at a time of threat so as to minimize damage to this
important junction if a struggle were to pursue. From a metaphysical
point of view, it might suggest that the Ego was engaged or disengaged
as the case might be. Or from a mechanical point of view, Body Work professionals
have known about the importance of the axis / atlas relationships for
years. Chiropractors and physical therapists frequently manipulate this
site to alleviate headaches, the Alexander Technique has based the foundation
of its work at this site and John Upledger uses it as the basis of cranial
sacral therapy. Perhaps, we in the biofeedback arena should more completely
explore the potential of this site for assessment and treatment purposes.
Are we missing the possible etiology of headaches because we monitor
only from frontalis and trapezius?

Secondly, I was duly impressed by the psychophysiological
effects of the flower essence studied. The flower essence therapy administered
just prior to the stress profiling procedure significantly reduced the
level of reactivity at the C4 / Throat and T6 / Heart chakras sites.
Why did it effect these two sites and not the frontal site or other sites?
From a strictly emotional model, the reduction in cervical sEMG might
have been predicted, but certainly not the T6 paraspinals. Next, it doesn't
make sense to place the effects of a flower essence into a strict mechanical
model. That is unless we begin to think of gravity as the basis of the
unified field theory. Perhaps the clinical effects came about because
of the homeopathic similarities between the attributes of flower essences
and those of the chakras. According to Kaminski (1995), the five flower
essence was specifically designed to "bring about stabilization
and calmness (Rock Rose), to "draw one back into present time" (Clematis),
to "balance and soothe away impulsiveness and irritability" (Impatiens),
to "bring about inner peace and stillness which allows us to ease
the contraction felt in the body" (Cherry Plum), and to "help
us regain our composure" and "for learning and mastery of our
lives" (Star of Bethlehem). The empirical data clearly suggests
that the flower essence works primarily on the centers for calmness (C4/Throat)
and love (T6/Heart). It appears to assist us in letting go of our attachments
and desires, while promoting a sense of calmness. Biofeedback practitioners
may want to learn more about how to use these adjunctive tools may assist
their patients in mastering the stress in their lives.

To conclude, psychophysiology provides a viable tool
by which to investigate subtle energies, especially when guided by the
metaphysical wisdom of the ages. This represents a blending of the old
and new, East and West. For what is the basis of science but to describe
what is all ready known with the latest tools of our culture.

For Dr. Cram's report of a study on environmental
sensitivity click here.